Match-book machine



C. BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE Filed March 14. 1924 June 8 1926.

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M

ATTORNEYS June 8,1926. 1,581,755

C.BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE Filed March 14. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTDRNEYT June 8,1925. 1,587,755

C. BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE L 0 INVENTOR. LM

BY WMM' ,M/w' m JM June 8,1925. 5 1,587,755

c. BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE Filed March 14. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. M

, BY l ,z ,M /MWMM A TTORNEY June 8 1926. v 1,587,755

. c. BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE ATTORNEYJ June 8 1926. 1,587,755

C. BUSTAMANTE MATCH BOOK MACHINE Filed March 14. 1924 v l INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYJ."

' mation of a completed match book.

Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CSAR BUSTAMANTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SUPER 'PRODCTION MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,A N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

MATCH-BOOK MACHINE.

Application led March 14, 1924. Serial- No. 699,200.

The present invention relates to a match book machine of the type which is designed to automatically place the matches in the cover strip, fold the cover strip about the matches and stitch or otherwise secure the as well to thus hold the'parts of. the book together. The matches employed in these match books as supplied to the trade are made ot a specially prepared cardboard cut into thin strips to constitute the individual matches. The section of cardboard from which the matches are made is usually not cut throughout its entire width when the individual matches are formed but has an -uncut portion at the base of the matches of sutiicient Width to receive the wire stitch which secures the matches and the cover strip together. By this means the matches are all supported from the uncut portion and to remove a match it is merely necessary to tear it from this uncut portion of the cardboard strip. One or more sections of matches are incorporated into a single booky as desired. The outer ends of the strips of cardboard constituting the individual matches are dipped and are thus coated with a compound suitable for constituting. the match head. As supplied by the manufacturer the matches are in strips of considerable length and this strip is, during the making of the match book` divided into sections ot' width corresponding to the width required in each book.

lt is a principal object of this invention to provide a match book machine which is adapted to receive a stri width sutiicient to form a p urality of match hooks and which is adapted to divide the match strip into a plurality of sections and to simultaneously perform upon all of the sections the operations necessary to the 'floge cover strips are supplied to the apparatus in the form of sheets large enough to constitute a number of cover strips corresponding to the number of sections into which the strip of matches ot of matches is divided. The operation of the apparatus is entirely automatic and requires no attention whatever lother than to supply the machine from time to time with a quantity of cover strip material and a quantity of match strips. It is also an object of the invention to so arrange the feeding means, both for the cover strip material and the match sections, that a single operator may attend to several machines.

It is a particular object of the invention to divide the match strips supplied to the machine into a plurality of sections and then, by mechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation, place the several match sections within the respective cover strips, each match section beingl properly located centrally of its enclosing strip. The match sections incorporated in the books or folders are necessarily ot' width somewhat less than the width of the cover strip and it is therefore necessary that the match sections bc spread out or spaced to a certain extent so that each section will be properly deposited upon its cover strip. The apparatus of this invention provides for presenting the cover strips in closely adjacent relation and then spacing out the respective match sections a certain distance corresponding to the position of the cover strips.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this type in which the various steps necessary to the production of the finished article are performed simultaneously on different articles in successive stages of vprogress thru the apparatus aud in which the mechanisms performing thev various steps of the operation are operated in synchronism from a common power source. Thus at every cycle of operation ot the apparatus not only is a single operation performed on several articles simultaneously. but all of the various operations necessary to the completion of the finished article are performed simultaneously on different articles in successive stages of progress thru the apparatus. At every cycle of operation ot the apparatus a plurality ot' completed match books is discharged from the machine. with the result that an exceedingly large output is secured. i

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an apparatus ot the class described certain novel features of structure and design which particularly adapt .thc

Utl

apparatus for the production of match books in quantity at reduced cost.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of -my invention. In said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the apparatus of my invention; Figure 2 is a detail view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a somewhat similar view showing the apparatus in a different stage of its cycle of operation; Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5 5 of Figure3; Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view thru the apparatus showing the operating parts; Figure 7 is a vertical sectional viewT taken transversely of the apparatus; Figure 8 is a plan View of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figures 9 and 10 are sectional details of a portion of the apparatus illustrating certain steps in 1ts operation; Figures 11 to 14 are detail views illustrating different steps in the production of the finished folder or book of matches; and Figure 15 is a View illustrating the finished article.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 indicates the frame or support upon which the operating mechanism of the apparatus is mounted.

The matches as presented to the machine are of the usual type employed 1n match folders or books of the kind produced by the machine of this application. They are presented in the form of strips, each strip being several times as wide as the width of the group of matches incorporated in a single folder so that each strip of matches supplied to the machine will ultimately be divided into a number of portions and incorporated into as many cartons. The strips here shown are intended to be divided into ten different sections so` that for each stri of matches introduced, ten complete fol ers or books will be formed. The apparatus is provided with a pair of endless chains 2 which chains carry a succession of receiving boxes or retainers 3 extending transversely between the two chains. It is the intent of this invention to provide a machine which requires but little attention on the part of the operator and is so constituted that a single operator can continuously attend to several of the machines. For this reason the'chains 2 are of substantial length so that at any time a considerable number of the receiving boxes 3 are presented in upright position along the upper reach of the chains, as shown in Figure 1. The operator from timeI to time inserts in each of these boxes 3 which is within reach a strip of: the matches as indicated at 4. The operation of the machine then continues automatically until the supply of matches in the receiving boxes 3 has been exhausted. The operator-s duties will he so regulated that before all of'thc matches fill' the empty boxes 3 the fashion rotation of gear placed in the boxes 3 have been exhausted he Will return to the apparatus and again which have moved int-o the filling position.

The endless chains 2 together with all of the other operating mechanism of the apparatus are driven from a main driving shaft 5. The shaft 5 drives a shaft thru a driving chain 7, this shaft carrying a gear 8 which meshes with and drives a gear 9 mounted to rotate freely upon its shaft 10. The gear 8 is provided with teeth around only a portion of this periphery, in

indicated in Figure (5. Likewise the gear 9 has its periphery divided in` to 4 segments, each segment comprising a toothed portion 1l and a smooth portion l2 v in the arc of' a circle of curvature identical with that of the smooth portion on the gear 8, so that during a portion of the rotation of the gear 8 the smooth portion of the periphery of that gear will be in engagement with the smooth are portion 12 with the result that rotation of the gear 8 may proceed without producing a corresponding 9. The toothed are of gear 8 is equal in length to each toother portion 11 of the gear 9. Thus when the teeth of gear 8 come into engagement with the toothed portion 11 of the gear 9, this latter gear Wil be rotated 90 about its shaft in the direction indicated, and this movement will cease after the toothed portion of the two gears have passed out ot' engagement and the smooth portion on the gear 8 rides in the next succeeding arc portion 12. B v this arrangement an intermittent movement is imparted to the gear 9, each period of movement carrying the gear thru 90" of rotatlon.

Mounted in fixed relation with gear 9` or formed integrally from the saine casting as shown in Figure i', is a gear 13 provided with teeth around its` entire periphery. but being subject of course to the intermittent rotation of gear 9. Motion is transmitted from the gear 13 to the endless chains 2 thru the intermediary of a system of gears shown in Figure 1 and indicated generally at 1-1. The last of these gears 14 is mounted on a shaft 15 which also carries driving sprockets 16 (Figure 6) in engagement chains 2. The chains 2 thus derive an intermittent movement and the transmission ratio of the driving gears is such that at each movement the chains 2 advance a distance exactly equal to the distance between adjacent boxes 3, the movement of the chains being in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. Since the chains are sprocket driven, an exact regulation of the extent of their movement is possible.

For convenience of insertion the strips of matches are placed in boxes 3 with the heads of the matches uppermost, as indicated at 4 with the driving Inf) in Figure 1. Near the end of the framework supporting the endless chains 2 are vertical guides 17 in which reciprocates a fiat plate 18 adapted to enter the boxes 3 and push the strip of matches out thru the bottom opening ofthe boxes. The parts of the mechanism areso proportioned that when a box 3 is directly under the plunger' plate 18, as shown in Figure 1, another box will -be in corresponding position on the return reach of the chain, as indicated at 3a. The downward stroke of the plate 18 will/therefore expel the strip of -matches from the box 3 and propel it downwardly along the guides in the frame of the machine until it enters the box 3a. In this box the heads ot the matches will lie at the end of the box adjacent the chains 2, which is the reverse of the position previously occupied in the other box. At every movement of the chains 2 a fresh box 3 is brought under the action of the expelling mechanism and a strip of matches is transferred from that box to the box in corresponding position on the und-er reach of the chains.

Synchronous operation between the end-1` less chains 2 and the expelling mechanism is `obtained by operating the expelling mecha- `roller 18 is provided on the shaft 6 `and an arm 19 pivoted tothe frame of the apparatus at 20. slotted to fit over the roller 18 and thus receives an oscillating motion about its` pivot due to rotation of the shaft 6 during operation of the apparatus. A rod or link 21 is connected to the oscillating arm 19 at its upper end and thru the intermediary of the llnkage indicated generally at 22 serves to operate the expelling mechanism by effecting vertical reciprocationot' the plate 18 along the guides 17. A single reciprocation of the expelling mechanism occurs at each revolution of the shaft 6 and, since movement of the endless chains 2 takes place at each revolution of the A v shaft 6, synchronous operation is effected.

By properly locating the eccentric cam roller 18 the expelling mechanism may be arranged to operate at any desired time with respect to the movement of the endless chains carrying the receiving boxes 3.

The gear 14 meshing with the gear 13 is ixedly mounted on its shaft 23 and this shaft is provided with an eccentric 24 which cooperates with the arm 25.(Fig. 3) and serves to impart a reciprocating motion to the element 26 which is in connection with the upper end of the arm 25. The element 26 carries a plurality of cutting knives 27 adapted to engage a strip fof lthe matches placed beneath the knives as indicated at 28. The element 26 reciprocates bodily in the direction of its length and the cutting of the strip of matches occurs when the element 26 is in'its lowermost position as shown in Figure 3. The element 26 carries members 29 which on the upward stroke of the element engage with the matches 28, which have just been subjected to the action of the cutting knives 27, and bodily carry there matches up and impale upon pricker elements 30, after the fashion indicated in Figure 4, from which position the matches are subsequently removed to be subjected to the next succeeding step in the cycle of operation. j

When the element 26 is in its uppermost position (Figure 4) the platen 31, upon which the matchesrest when they are in the position indicated at 28 in Figure 3, is emptied and isin' condition to receive a fresh strip of matches. The platen 31 is so positioned as to be in alignment with the position of each of the receiving boxes `3 as the box comes to rest during the progress of the intermittent operation of the carrying chains 2. A box 3comes to rest in alignment with the platen 31 as indicated in Figure 3, and at thls point an ejector member 32 is recprocated in suitable slides 33 and forcibly ejects the strip of matches from the box 3 into the position 28, in which position the matches are held by reason .of the ressure of the spring 34. The ejector 32 1s actuated thru a linkage 35 (Figure 1) operated from the same mechanism which actuates the expelling plate 18. The operation of the ejector 32 is thus synchronous with the operation of the other parts lof the mechanism and will always occur at the proper time to move the strip of matches into position to be acted upon by the cutting knives 27. Figure 6 shows the relation ot' the parts of the apparatus during actuation of t e ejector mem er 32. It will be noted that this ejecting operation occurs midway between the cutting operation under the knives 27 and the impaling of the cut sections of 'matches upon the pricker elements 30, that is midway between the positions indica-ted in Figure 3 and Figure 4. This is evidenced by the position of the eccentric 24 with respect t`o its shaft. Reference to Figure '8 will show the relation of the cutting knives 27 and springs 34. These elements are all mounted upon the bodily mov- .able unit 26. The springs are ten in number and the knives are provided intermediate the respective springs to cut the strip of matches into ten sections so that the strip will ultimately produce ten complete books of matches.

The paper strips which are ultimately to constitute the covers of the completed match' books or folders are supplied in strips wide enough to form ten books to correspond to the ten sectionsv of the match strip. The covers are supplied to the apparatus as flat lll( sheets and are stacked one u on the other in thefecd magazine 35. he strips are discharged thru a slot 36 provided at the lower end of the magazine. Adjacent the discharge slot 36 is a pair of feed rollers 37 designed to receive a strip issuing from the slot and pass it under the action of the cutting knives 38 whereupon the cover strip is cut into ten sections each of a size proper to constitute a sinfrle match folder.

Discharge of tlie cover strip from the magazine 35 is accomplished by a link 39- (best shown in Figure l) operated by an eccentric connection, indicated at 40, with the intermittently rotating shaft 23. At each rotation of the shaft 23, the link 39 is actuated and reciprocation of the sliding plate 41 (Figure 6) which is attached to the end of the link 39 occurs. The late 41 is of a thickness approximately equa to that of the cover sheets fed from the magazine 35. The plate at each reciprocation of the actuating link enters the cover magazine thru a slot 42 provided at the bottom of the magazine opposite the slot 36 and serves to move the lowermost cover sheet in the magazine out thru the slot 36 and into the feed rollers 37. The feed rollers 37 and the knives 38, together with a second set of feed rollers 43 to receive the strips issuing from the knives 38, are continuously rotated thru a chain driving connection 44 (Figure 1) with the main operating shaft 5 of the machine. The feed roller-S43 engage the cut strips issuing from the knives and pass the strips out upon a platen 45 to the position indicated at 46 in Figure 3. A guide strip 47 is provided to receive and guide the forward ends of the cover strips and cause the entire group of strips to lay flat as shown. '.l`he mechanism for discharging the cover strip from the magazine 35 is actuated during the same time that the match strip is being subjected to the action of the cutting knives 27. The relation of the parts of the apparatus at this stage of the operation is shown in Figure 3.

After the cut sections of the match strip are impaled upon the pricker elements 30, as shown in Figure 4, the swinging arm 48 which carries the pricker elements 30 is returned to a vertical position. This pivoted arm 48 is mounted in fixed relation with an arm 49 having at its upper end4 a cam roller 50 operating on the -cani surface. of a block 5l. A toothed sector 52 is provided to ro' tate the pivoted arm 48 and is actuated by a cooperating toothed sector which in turn receives its actuation thru a link 54. At its lower end the link 54 is connected to a rocking arm 55 (Figure l) which in turn is maintained in fixed relation with an arm 56 slotted at its upper end to furnish a connection with the reciprocating rod 21 and to t-hus receive a rocking motion which is transmitted thru the link 54 to rock the actuating sector 53. When the apparatus is in the stage of operation shown in Figure 3, the link 54 is ulled downwardly thru its operating mec anism with the result that, thru the intermediary of the sectors 53 and 52, the pivoted arm 48 is swung down into its vertical position. When arm 48 has reached the vertical position the cam roller 50 has just passed oif of the inclined surface of the cam block 51 and has contacted with the vertical face of the block. Further lowering of the actuating link 54 will shift the entire element, including the pivoted arm 48, the cam arm 49 and roller 50 and the actuating sectors` downwardly into the position shown in Figure 6. This bodily movable element is 'supported upon a frame, indicated at 57, which reciprocates vertically in slides 58.

lVhen the arm 48 carrying pricker elements 30 is swung into vertical position, the prickcr elements 30 come into engagement with a. stripper plate 59 carried b v an arm 60 which is mounted upon the frame 57. The upper end of the arm 60 is attached to a bell crank lever system 61 having at its upper end a cam roller 62 engaging with a cani block 63 upon which there is provided a raised portion 64 which serves as a cam to actuate the stripper. The construction of the stripper. plate 59 is shown in detail in Figure 11. The plate is recessed to receive the pricker elements 30 so that it is in such position that, when moved downwardly, it will strip the sections of matches :from the stripper elements 30. During the downward movement of the frame 57 and its associated elements, the cam roller 62 engages the cam surface 64 with the result that the stripper 59 is given a quick downward motion which serves to remove the match sections from the pricker elements 30 and place them u on the platen 45` in the position shown in igure 6.

lVhen the match strip is eilt into ten sections and those sections are impaled upon the pricker elements as shown in Figure 4, the respective match sections lie immediately adjacent. Inasmuch as the cover strips which are to enclosey the matches in the finished book must be of width somewhat greater than that of the body of matches contained 'within the folder, this invention contemplates means for spreading out the cut sections of the match strip to compensate for the difference in width between the. match sections and the cover strips. This spreading operation is accomplished by a cam member 65, best shown 1n Figures 3 and 8. The cam member 65 is rovided with a plurality of cam grooves 66 1n which cam followers 67 provided on the. respective prif-ker elements 30 operate. At the forward `extent of the swing of the pricker carrying arm 48 the cam followers 67 associated withknives 27. As the arm 48-swi1`igs down into vertical position, the pricker eements 30, which are slidably mounted on thelr supportingrod 68 (Figure 7), are spread apart due to the separation of the cam grooves 66, so that when the pricker elements have been rotated back into vertical position their spacing corresponds not to the width of the cut match sections but to the width of the cover Strips.

With this relation each of the match sections impaled upon the pricker elements occurs in properly spaced relation to be deposited centrally upon the cover strip which is to receive it and which has been fed out after the fashion indicated in Figure 3. As the pricker elements descend toward the position shown in Figure 6, the match sections impaled on the pricker elements engage with the cover strips which have been fed out into the pat-h of the descending element with the result that the cover strip is folded into the position shown in Figure 9. The shape of the guide strip 47 serves to bend over the cover portion of the folder and hold it in the position shown. It is at this stage of the operation that the stripper element is operated to remove the matches from the prickers 30. It will be noted that in the position indicated in Figure 3, when the cover strips are fed out in flatwise relation1 platen 45 is raised to the same level as that at. which the cover strips are fed out. The

elevation of the platen in this fashion is ac? complished by a linkage 69 and cam roller 70 cooperating with anactuating cam 71, as shown in Figure 6. The cam 71 has a groove '72 into which the cam roller 70 drops, thus permitting` the spring 73 to raise the platen 45 into the position of Figure 8. 'lhe cam 71 is tixedly secured to the shaft 10 and this shaft (Figure 1) is operated thru a linkage mechanism 74 having a cam roller 75 engaging with the slotted arm 76, also secured to the shaft 10. This linkage mechanism 74 receives its actuation from the os cillating arm 19 and the result is that shaft 10 with its cam 71 is subjected to an oscillating movement occurring once at each cycle of o eration of the machine and in proper sync ronism with the other parts of the ap paratus. After the cover strips have beenv fed out upon platen 45 in its elevated position, cam 71 is oscillated to bring the cam followe`r 70 out of the groove 72 so that the platen 45 will be lowered into its normal position as shown in Figure 6.

l The return motion of the pricker elements 30 from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 3 is accomplished by reason of the action of the sectors 53 and''together with the cooperation of the cam 51 vand cam roller 50. The actuating link 54 of the mechanism is moved upwardly whereupon the sectors tend to rotate in a counter clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 6) the arm carrying the cam roller 5Q. Since the roller'50 is in engagement with the vertical face of the cam block 51, such rotation is impossible and the upward pressure of link 54 will serve to bodily elevate the frame 57 with all of` its associated parts until the cam roller 50 passes over the upper corner of the cam block 51, at. which stage of the operation a swinging motion of the element will result and the apparatus willagain assume the position of Figure 3' preparatory to receiving a fresh supply of cut match sections upon thelpricker elements 30.

During the depression of the platen 45 from ,its elevated position into the position of Figure 6, the folding of the cover strip is accomplished by means of rocker arm 77 provided with a cam roller 78 which oper'- ates upon a cam 79 oscillated by the shaft 10 in the same fashion as is cam 7l. lVhen the platen 45 is in its elevated position the cam roller 78 is riding upon the portion 80' of the cam which is of small diameter, and in this position the rocker arm 77 assumes a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 3. As the platen 45 descends, however, the cam roller 78 rises to the portion of the cam of larger diameter, as shown in Figure 6, with the result that the arm folds down the cover upon the section of matches and holds it in the position shown. Likewise the other end of the cover strip is folded up into the position indicated at 8l preparatory to enclosing the base of the section of matches. This folding operation is accomplished by an arm 82 positioned so that upon descent of the platen 45 it will contact with the end 0f the cover stripand bend it up as indicated at 81. This operation is shown in detail in Figure 10.

The framework carrying the platens and the various arms and linkages just described which serve to fold the cover strip on to the section of matches is mounted in fixed relation with the gears 9 and 12 so that upon rotation of the gears on the shaft.

10 the entire framework with its associated mechanism is rotated. Since the gears 9 and 12 are subjected to an intermittent movement consisting of four periods of movement er revolution, the extent of each movement eing 90, the platen 45 which has just received its folder of matches will be rotated at the next operation of the d'evice 90 in a counter clockwise direction into the position indicated at 83 in Figure 6. Upon arriving at the position indicated at 83 the cam roller 84 provided on the arm 82 contacts with the upper end of an arm 85, with the result that the cup shaped end of arm 82 slides up over the base of the book of matches and thus folds the cover flap securely into place around the base of the matches and thereby retains the upper flap ot' the folder in place in the same fashion as the article is presented to the trade. At this point a stitching mechanism indicated generally at 86 operates on the folder of matches to insert a single wire strip thru the base of the section of matches and the enclosing folder. This stitching mechanism is the usual type of stitching mechanism employed for accomplishing this function in the production of match books -of this type, and therefore is not shown in detail.

After the stitching operation the arm 85, being oscillated in the same fashion as is arm 19. moves out of engagement with the cam roller 84 to permit further rotation of the gears 9 and 12 together with the elements rotating as a part of the same unit.

-At its lowermost position, the folder of matches is not subjected to any operation. lVhen, however, it has been rotated into the position shown at the right vof` Figure 6, the folder of matches on the platen is discharged into a suitable chute 87 which conveys the finished articles away as desired. The arm 82 is normally held in a position such that it does not engage the folder of matches on the platen and for this reason this arm does not interfere with the discharge of the finished article. The arm 77 which holds the folder of matches on the platen is positively released by reason of the fact that its cam roller drops into the depressed portion 8O of the cam 79 in the fashion indicated at 77. At'the same time the cam roller associated with the platen from which the discharge of the 'article is taking place drops into the groove 72 of the cam 7l, whereupon the platen in the discharge position will spring out and thus positively expel the finished folder of matches into the discharge chute.

It will be understood vthat in the apparatus shown in the various operations which are perfori'ned at eachaevolution of the driving gear 8 all occur in proper synchronism and at the proper time to accomplish the results in the'manner described.

At every revolution of the gear 8 a coin` plete succession of these operations is performed and at every revolution of this gear a complete set of ten match books is discharged from the apparatus. The output of a single machine is therefore far greater than the output of a machine wherein it is necessary to conduct the respective operations upon-but a single folder with the result that. only one folder is produced at a. time. Ten has been chosen as a convenient number of articles to pass thru the machine in parallel arrangement, but it will be umilerstood that this number may be varied without altering any of the principles disclosed herein. Further changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. .In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a (plurality of sections, means for moving sai sections into spaced relation to correspond to the Width of the completed match books and means for placing the respective match sections Within the cover stri s to thereby constitute a plurality of match ooks.

2. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means y for providing a plurality of cover strips of greater Width than said sections to receive said match sections and means for simultaneously positioning said match sections centrally within the respective cover strips.

3. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips and means for moving the match sections into spaced relation to correspond to the location of the respective cover strips.

at. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips in closely adjacent relation, means for simultaneously positioning the respective match sections centrally with relation to the corresponding cover strips and means for enclosing said match sections in said respective cover strips.

5. In a match book machine of the class described, means for introducing a strip of matches into the machine, means for dividingsaid strip of matches into a plurality of sections,y means for introducing a sheet of covermaterial and 'dividinf said sheet into a plurality of cover strips lying in adjacent relation, and `means for simultaneously transferring said match sections into properly spaced relationfor enclosure within said cover strips.

6. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of elements for receiving said matchvsections, means for supplying said elements with the respective match sections, means for lactuating said elements to space the inatcli,. sections carried thereby to correspondfwith the positioning of the respective cover strips and means for enclosing the respective match sections within said cover strips.

7. In a match book machine of-the class described, means for receiving. a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of pricker elements for receiving said match sections, means for impaling the match sections on' said pricker elements and means for simultaneously mov.- ing said elements into proximity with said cover' strips and spacing said elements 'to correspond with the positioning of said cover strips. y

8. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of elements for handling said divided match sections and means for spacing the respective match sections corresponding to the positioning of said cover strips comprising a plurality of cams associated with said respective ele-- ments to direct the movement thereof and means for moving said elements along said cams.

9. In a match book machine of the class described, means for. receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality/of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of pricker elements for handling said divided match sections, means for impaling said match sections upon said pricker elements, means for spacing therespective match sections corresponding to the positioning of said cover strips comprising a plurality of cams associated with said respective elements to direct the movement thereof and means for moving said element-s along said cams, stripper means for reinoving the match sections from the pricker elements and means for enclosing the said match sections in the respective cover strips.

10. A match book machine of the class described comprising feeding means for in.- troducing a strip of matches into the apparatus, means for dividing said strip 'of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of pricker elements for handling said divided match sections, means for mpaling said match sections upon said pricker elements, means for spacing the respective match sections corresponding to the positioning of said cover strips comprising a plurality of cams associated With said f respective elements to direct the movement thereof and means for moving said elementsv along saidcams, stripper means for removing vthe match sections from the pricker elements, means for enclosing the said match sections in the respective cover strips, means for stitching the match sections into the respective cover strips and means for ejecting the finished articles from the machine.

11. In a match book machine of the class described, mea-ns for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip ofmatches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of elements for handling said divided match sections, means for spacing the respective match sections correspond-` ingto the positioning of said cover strips A i comprising a plurality -of cams associated with said respective elements to direct the movement thereof and means for moving said elements alongl said cam, means for 'moving said pricker elements to bring the match sections carried thereby into contact with said respective cover strips, stri )per ineaiiseforreiiioving the match sections rom the pricker elements, said stripper means being movable bodily With said pricker elements in fixed relation thereto, means for actuating said stripper means at a predetermined point in the travel of the pricker eledetermined point in the travel of said bodily shiftable unit, means for actuating said stripper plate comprising a cam interposed in the path of travel of said unit to thereby move said plate relatively to said pricker elements and remove the match sections within the respective cover strips.

13. In a match book machine of the class described, means lfor receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a bodily shiftable unit comprising a plurality of pricker elements for Vhandling the match sections, said pricker elements `also having a swinging movement relative to' said bodily shiftable portion, means for effecting bodily movement of said unit comprismg an' actuating linkage, a gear rocked lao by said actuating linkage, a second gear cooperating therewith, an arm fxedly associai ed with said second gear whereby rotation of said gear effects rotation of said arm, a cam follower provided on said arm, and a' cooperating cam having a flat face and a face at an angle to said flat face, said arm being prevented from rotating when said cam follower is in contact with the fiat face of said cam, whereby bodily shifting of said unit will result, and being free to rotate when said follower is in contact with the other face of said cam.

14. In a match book machine of the class described, a plurality of spaced carrying elements for receiving the match strips, cutting means 1"'or dividing said match strips into a plurality of sections, intermittently ope lated means for successively ejecting match strips from said respective receiving elements into the section of Said cutting means, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips comprising feed mechanism for` introducing a sheet `ot' cover material and cutting knives for dividing said sheet of material linto a plurality of strips, a plui rality of pricker elements for receiving said match sections, means for impaling the match sections on said pricker elements, means for spacing said pricker elements to correspond with the positioning of said cover strips and means for enclosing the respective match sections within said cover strips.

15. In a match book machine of the class described, a plurality of spaced carrying elements for holding match strips placed therein, endless supporting chains for said elements` means for advancing said chains intermittently a distance equal to the distance between said carrying elements,` means operated synchronouslywith the movement of said carrying elements for transferring a match strip from a carrying element carried on one reach of said supporting chains into the corresponding element on the return reach of said chains, thereby reversing match sections,

thc relation of the match ends relative to the carrying element, ycutting means for dividing said match strip into a plurality of sectlons, means operated synchronously with the movement of said carrying clements for successively cjecting match strips from said respective carrying elements into the action of said cutting means, means for feeding into position a 'plurality of cover strips comprising feeding mechanism for introducing a sheet of cover material and cutting knives for dividing said sheet of material into a plurality of strips, a plu- 'ality of pricker elements for receiving said means for impaling the match sections on said prickcr elements, means for spacing said elements to correspond with the positioning of said cover strips and means for enclosing the respective match sections within said cover strips.

16. In a match book machine of the class described, means for receiving a strip of matches, means for dividing said strip of matches into a plurality of sections, means for feeding into position a plurality of cover strips, a plurality of elements for handling said divided match sections, means for spacing the respective match sections corresponding to the positioning of said cover strips comprising a plurality of cams associated with said respective elements to direct the movement thereof and means for moving said elements along said cams, and means for enclosing the respective match sections within said cover strips'and discharging the finished match books from the machine. said means comprising a rotatable frame, members carried by said rotatable frame for enclosing the respective match sections within said cover strips, members carried by said frame for supporting the respective match books, cams for actuatingv said enclosing and carrying members, and means for oscillating said cams about an axis identical with the axis of rotation of said frame.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.`

CSAR BUSTAMANTE. 

